Drying air housing



y 1969 c. J. SCHROEDER 3,457,110

DRYING AIR HOUSING Filed June 16, 1967 INVENTOR. CARL J. SCHROEDER W4 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,457,110 DRYING AIR HOUSING Carl J. Schroeder, Burton, Geauga, Ohio, assignor to The Chemical Rubber Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed June 16, 1967, Ser. No. 646,696 Int. Cl. B08b 3/00, 5/00 US. Cl. 13499 8 Claims ABSTRAiIT OF THE DISCLOSURE A drying air housing having a top, a bottom, sidewall, an inlet, an outlet, and an air-directing plate. The outlet is defined by a space between opposed, converging sidewalls, and the air-directing plate extends beyond the outlet, generally in the direction of one of the converging sidewalls. The air-directing plate has at least one plane surface extending away from the direction of the one converging sidewall.

This invention relates to the art of drying apparatus and more particularly to an improved drying air housing.

The present invention is particularly applicable for use with washing machines, such as dishwashers, and more particularly washing machines for laboratory ware, and it will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it will be appreciated that the invention has broader applications and may be used in any environment or with any device where the advantages of an improved drying air housing can be appreciated.

In accordance with a preferred, but limited aspect of the present invention, the improved drying air housing is adapted for use in conjunction with a washing machine for dishes, and more especially laboratory ware, of the type having a washing chamber, means for introducing and distributing cleansing fluid throughout the chamber, such as a source of water or a detergent solution, connected to a spraying device, and conduit means for introducing drying air into the chamber. In general, the drying air conduit takes the form of a short stand pipe or duct, provided with some kind of deflector means suitably directed so as to prevent the spray of cleansing fluid from entering the conduit.

In one commercial embodiment of such a machine, discussed here for illustrative purposes only, the drying air conduit takes form of a short stand pipe extending vertically from the floor of the washing chamber, and is provided with a deflecting cap, held in spaced relationship with respect to the top of the stand pipe by some suitable means such as a clip or bracket. This arrangement is quite similar to that found in an internal combustion engine, having a stand pipe for introducing lubricating oil into the crank case of the engine, and a breather cap which frictionally fits on top of, and in spaced relationship with, the stand pipe.

Such an arrangement in a washing machine of the type described, is rather inefiicient, due to the fact that drying air rising through the stand pipe is caused by the deflector cap to reverse its direction through a 180 turn, whereby air entering the washing chamber is directed toward the bottom thereof and away from the dishes and other ware to be dried, which are positioned in suitable racks mounted in the uper portions of the chamber.

This rather inefficient arrangement results in longer drying cycles, and frequently an inability of the machine ice to completely dry a full load of dishes or the like within the time allowed by a pre-set drying cycle.

The problem of adequate drying is accentuated where a machine of the type described is loaded with a plurality of small items of laboratory ware, such as test tubes, petri dishes, watch glasses or the like. A full load of such items has considerably more surface area to be dried than a full load of larger items such as dinner plates or the like. Moreover, laboratory ware items are frequently closely packed in racks specially designed to hold them, and this inherently reduces the efliciency of air circulation. Consequently, drying air housings of conventional design do not promote satisfactory drying of laboratory ware.

It is therefore apparent that there is a need for a drying air housing which overcomes the foregoing and other disadvantages. The present invention is addressed to filling in this need by providing a drying air housing which offers reduced resistance to airflow and directs at least a portion of the drying air stream toward the objects to be dried.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drying air housing for a dish washing machine chamber or the like, comprising a top, a bottom and sidewalls, an inlet end and an outlet. The outlet is defined by a space between opposed, converging sidewalls. An air-directing means is provided and extends beyond the outlet, generally in the direction of one of the converging sidewalls, the air-directing means having at least one plane surface extending away from the direction of the one converging sidewall.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided in a washing machine for laboratory ware having a washing chamber, means for introducing and distributing cleansing fluid throughout the chamber, and conduit means for introducing drying air into the chamber, improved means for distributing drying air throughout the chamber comprising, a housing having a top, a bottom and sidewalls, an inlet connected to the conduit means and an outlet, the outlet being defined by a space between opposed, converging sidewalls, and airdirecting means extending beyond the outlet, generally in the direction of one of the converging sidewalls, and having at least one plane surface extending away from the direction of the one converging sidewall.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a drying air housing of improved construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drying air housing which overcomes certain disadvantages of the prior art.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a drying air housing offering reduced resistance to air flow therethrough.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a closed chamber, such as the washing chamber of a washing machine, with a drying air housing of improved construction, which permits the drying of objects within the chamber with greater efiiciency than heretofore thought possible.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic, plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention installed in a chamber;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic, section view taken generally along line 2-2of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic, greatly enlarged plan view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a schematic, greatly enlarged side view, with parts cut away and parts in section, showing the along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same, FIGURE 1 shows a drying air housing designated generally as 10, in the environment of a dish or laboratory ware washing machine 12, having a washing chamber 14 defined by a generally rectangular bottom and vertical walls. Positioned within the chamber are means for introducing and distributing cleansing fluid throughout the chamber, which may take a variety of forms, but in the preferred embodiment illustrated, take the form of rotatable spray heads 16. Chamber 14 is further provided with conduit means for introducing drying air into the chamber, which also may take a variety of forms, but in the preferred embodiment illustrated takes the form of stand pipe 18 extending upwardly through the bottom of chamber 14.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, drying air housing comprises a top 20, bottom 22, and sidewalls 24, 26, 28, 30. The housing may be formed from a variety of material such as plastics, and in some environments even wood, but in the preferred embodiment illustrated is formed from metal, such as aluminum or stainless steel. Conveniently, the sidewalls of the housing can be prepared from a single piece of sheet metal, suitably stamped to provide tabs 32, and then bent in the configuration shown in FIGURE 3. Separate stampings can be made to provide the top and bottom of the housing, and the various parts can be assembled by any suitable fastening means such as pop rivets 34 illustrated in the drawings. Less desirably, because an uneconomical amount of trim is produced, the entire housing may be formed from a single piece of stamped metal, thereby providing a top and bottom hinged to one sidewall, and suitably secured to tabs 32 on the remaining sidewalls, as by means of pop rivets 34.

Bottom 22 of housing 10 is provided with an aperture defining an inlet 36 adapted to receive stand pipe 18. Any suitable means may be provided to secure the housing to stand pipe 18, and in the preferred embodiment illustrated (see FIGURE 4) such means comprises flanged collar 38 surrounding stand pipe 18, and providing a horizontal surface upon which rests the portions of bottom 22 surrounding inlet 36. Penetration of stand pipe 18 into housing 10 is limited by U-shaped bracket 40 secured by any suitable means to top 20 of the housing. Bracket 40 is designed so as to provide adequate head room for free movement of air exiting stand pipe 18 into housing 10.

The housing is further provided with outlet 42, which as best seen in FIGURE 3, is defined by a space between opposed, converging sidewalls 24, 30.

Extending beyond outlet 42, and generally in the direction of sidewall 30, is air-directing means, which in the preferred embodiment illustrated takes the form of a generally rectangular, integral plate extension 44 of sidewall 30. Plate 44 is provided with generally triangular plane surfaces 46, 48, extending away from the direction of sidewall 30. These are preferably formed by bending appropriate portions of plate 44. As best seen in FIGURE 2, plane surfaces 46, 48 form a V in a plane generally at right angles to the plane of plate 44. Again, as best seen in FIGURE 2, leading edge 50 of plate 44 makes point contact with a vertical wall of chamber 14, while plate 44 and sidewall 30 of housing 10 extend away from the vertical wall of chamber 14 at an acute angle. This arrangement protects the interior of housing 10 against infiltration of cleansing fluid ejected from rotatable spray heads 16.

With plane surfaces 46, 48 arranged as shown, a stream of air traveling from outlet 42, and impinging against plate 44, is divided into two tub-streams, one sub-stream following the contour of plane surface 46 and rising upwardly into the chamber 14, and the other stream following the contour of plane surface 48, and being directed toward the bottom of chamber 14.

The drying air housing of the present invention provides considerably less resistance to air flow than do arrangements known to the prior art. Moreover, the housing of the present invention provides means for diverting a portion of the drying air stream upwardly into the chamber, thereby substantially increasing the effectiveness and efliciency of the drying operation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1, A drying air housing for a dish washing machine chamber or the like, comprising a top, a bottom and sidewalls; an inlet, and an outlet; said outlet being defined by a space between opposed, converging sidewalls; and generally rectangular air-directing means extending beyond said outlet, generally in the direction of one of said converging sidewalls, and having a plurality of generally triangular shaped plane surfaces extending away from the direction of said one converging sidewall.

2. The drying air housing as defined in claim 1, wherein said air-directing means is an integral extension of said one converging sidewall.

3. A drying air housing for a dish washing machine chamber or the like, comprising a top, a bottom and sidewalls; an inlet, and an outlet; said outlet being defined by a space between opposed, converging sidewalls; and airdirecting means extending beyond said outlet, generally in the direction of one of said converging sidewalls, and having two plane surfaces both extending away from the interior face of said one converging sidewall, whereby a stream of air traveling from the outlet of said housing and impinging said air-directing means, is divided into two sub-streams, one sub-stream following the contour of one of said plane surfaces, and the other sub-stream following the contour of the other said plane surfaces.

4. In a washing machine for laboratory ware having a washing chamber with substantially vertical walls, means for introducing and distributing cleansing fluid throughout said chamber and conduit means for introducing drying air into said chamber, improved means for distributing drying air throughout said chamber, comprising a housing having a top, a bottom and sidewalls; an inlet connected to said conduit means and an outlet; said outlet being defined by a space between opposed, converging sidewalls; and air-directing means extending beyond said outlet, generally in the direction of one of said converging sidewalls, and having at least one plane surface extending away from the direction of said one converging sidewall the latter being in a vertical plane and at an acute angle with respect to one of the vertical (walls of said washing chamber.

5. The washing machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said air-directing means has two plane surfaces extending away from the direction of said one converging sidewall and away from said one vertical wall.

6. The washing machine as defined in claim 5, wherein said air-directing means is an integral extension of said one converging sidewall.

7. The washing machine as defined in claim 6, wherein said air-directing means has a leading edge in point contact with said one vertical wall, thereby protecting said housing against infiltration by cleansing fluid.

8. A drying air housing for a dish washing machine chamber or the like, comprising a top, a bottom and sidewalls; an inlet, and an outlet; said outlet being defined by a space between opposed, converging sidewalls, one of said converging sidewalls terminating at said outlet and the other of said converging sidewalls extending beyond said outlet and forming air-directing means disposed generally along the same path of convergence as said other sidewall; and at least one plane surface formed on said airdirecting means, extending away from said path of convergence and away from said one side wall, so as to direct 1,841,927 1/ 1932 Allsop 34-231 XR air leaving said outlet, up and over said other sidewall. 3,002,700 10/1961 Mohring 239521 XR 3,241,563 3/1966 Braden 13499 XR References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 DANIEL BLUM, Pnmary Exammer US. Cl. X.R. 1,726,834 9/1929 Hopkins 34-231 XR 34--231; 239518 1,815,798 7/1931 Rankin 34231 XR 

